two heads, one cabinet

[antichef]

I'm switching back and forth between two different amp heads on one 4x12 cab. Currently, I make sure the one I'm not using is off and move the speaker cable back and forth as needed between the two. The cabinet has (at least) two inputs, and so I'm wondering whether it would be a disaster to:

1) use two speaker cables which are always in place between each head and the two cabinet inputs, making sure the amp I'm not using is off, or

2) use the two speaker cables but perhaps leave both heads on and use an A/B box to switch my guitar between the two, or even

3) jump the inputs to the heads and play through them both into the same cabinet (assuming it can handle the total output of both heads)

In any of the cases above, should I be worried about the signal from the active amp head hurting the inactive head? Both heads are tube/transformer based in a traditional way, if that makes a difference.

 

[mixsit]

I'm switching back and forth between two different amp heads on one 4x12 cab. Currently, I make sure the one I'm not using is off and move the speaker cable back and forth as needed between the two. The cabinet has (at least) two inputs, and so I'm wondering whether it would be a disaster to:

1) use two speaker cables which are always in place between each head and the two cabinet inputs, making sure the amp I'm not using is off, or

2) use the two speaker cables but perhaps leave both heads on and use an A/B box to switch my guitar between the two, or even

3) jump the inputs to the heads and play through them both into the same cabinet (assuming it can handle the total output of both heads)

In any of the cases above, should I be worried about the signal from the active amp head hurting the inactive head? Both heads are tube/transformer based in a traditional way, if that makes a difference.

I'll be interested to see how this turns out (I'm not sure but I'm betting #2 and #3 are a no go unless each amp only saw it's own speaker (or speakers) in the cab.
#1 the active amp will be seeing the speakers impedance and the winding of the other amps transformer (assuming tube' amp

 

[GONZO-X]

look at RADIAL

 

[antichef]

I looked through the radial products - I didn't see one that would switch a speaker level signal, but I may not have looked hard enough.

I'm taking all the rest of your silence to mean, "stupid idea" - maybe this can be my excuse to get another cab

 

[ocnor]

Here is what you are looking for and no it's not a stupid idea. Tonebone Headbone VT valve tube amp head switcher - introduction

 

[GONZO-X]

like i said, check radial

 

[bouldersoundguy]

If either or both are tube amps then you need something like the Headbone to keep a safe load on the output of the unused amp. If they are both solid state amps then a simple non-shorting heavy duty DPDT switch may do it since they are okay with open circuit.